Damper-regulator.



W. M. FULTON.

DAMPER REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. so, 1906.

. 999 176 Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ebwanfoz W. M. FULTON. DAMPER REGULATOR. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 30, 1906.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

anyenioz in sa ar es PATENT oration WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DAMPER-REGULATOR. v

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Application filed January 30, 1906. Serial No. 298,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .l, Nnsrox M. FULTON, of Knoxville, 'lennessee, have invented a new and useful l mprovcment in Damper-liegw lators, which invention is fullyset forth in the following specii'ication.

This invention relates to damper regulators for use ith lov; pressure steam boilers, and more pa ticularly to that class of regun) lutors in which motion is imparted to a lever through the movenicnt of a collapsible and cxpansibic vessel actuated by steam pressure from the boiler, and has for its object to secure scnsitivencss of action under varied conditions of pressure, to provide for a Wide range of movement and durability in construction.

l'leretoiore in damper regulators employing a steai'n-actuated collapsible and expansiblc vessel the movable and of the vessel has been provided with a direct connection by means of a plunger to the power lever which operates the damper through a flexible connection and the steam from the boiler entering the collapsible and expansible vessel has imparted movement thereto against the increasing resistance of the Walls of the expanding vessel. A similar increasing resistance has been encountered when the walls of the vessel were collapsed beyond a certain normal position. Certain disadvant have resulted from such constructions.

Of on torsional strains on the power-lever re- ,sult in excessive shearing and binding of the pivotal supports of the lover, thereby greatly detracting from the scnsitiveness of the reg ulator. Again certain styloso'f boilers in the market require an unusually large movement of the power-lever in order to open and close the damper. To secure this movement the collapsible and expansible vessel requires a correspondingly lengthy movement; In

such cases the resilience of the Walls of the collapsible and expansible vessels offers an increasing resistance to expansion or con.-

traction beyond a certain normal position and this resistance is approximately proportional to the distance through which it is forced from its normal position. It results under such conditions that greater steam pressure is required to give the vessel a given increase in movement as the vessel expands beyond this normal position. The same is also true for movements of the vessel below a .55 certain normal position. The scnsitiveness of the regulator to changes in pressure-thereby decreases as the pressure increases.

Regulators of this class are usually ining purposes and are often subyected to accumulation of dust and rust W iich in tii'ne gathers about the pivots upon. whir the damper lever turns and thereby impairs the efiiciency of the regulator. lleretofore the damper lever has been pivoted directly to the collapsible and expansible vessel itself, but the bulky nature of this lover necessitated its detachment in shipping, therey requiring a rte-adjustment ol the lever When the regulator is installed on the boiler. Failure to properly adjust the lever and exclude all dirt and grime from the pivots at this time would cause the regulator to fail to op crate properly. I

In regulators of the class employing collapsible and expansible vessels, it is desirable that the end Walls, particularly the lower one, be rigid in order to act as a support for the vessel and parts connected thereto, and it is further essential that this Wall should be of non-corrosive material to withstand corrosion and action of the steam. For "this purpose sheet brass or copper has been found useful but such metals When of suitable thickness are precluded by reason of expense; therefore, it becomes desirable to devisl'c other means for effecting the desired re' su t.

With these objects in view the invention consists in providing the regulator of the class referred to with. compensating means whereby the increasing resistance ol'lered by the walls of the collapsible and expansib'le --vesscl may be overcome, thereby giving greater uniformity of action to' the regulator. The invention further consistsin providing, for the reception of the damper lever in a regulator of the class referred to, a tilting support or rocker, whereby little or no skill is required in making adjustments of the lever, and obstructions by dirt and rust about the pivotal supports greatly lessened; and the invention further embraces other features of invention hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

drawings in Wlllcl1- Figure 1 IS a front elevation and Fig. 2 is a part elevation and part a vertical section of the same, showing my improvements. Fig.

stalled on steam boilers used for house-heat Reference is had to the "accompanying 15 means of a bolt and a lug 3 entering asocket Q scans at the pivots when torsional strains occur on t .e power-lever.

A further advantage resides in the great sensitiveness which this form of support gives to the regulator, and the ready adjustment 70 of the damper lever inits binding st. In F i 2 is shown the manner 0 construct ing the ottom of the vessel whereb it may combine the advantages gained by the use of such non-corrosive metals as brass or copper 75 and possess the necessary strength to support the vessel and its associated parts. 11 is a non-corrosive metal plate of thin metal such. as thin sheet brass or copper which may be secured to the corrugated wall of the ves- 80 sell, as by welding brazing or soldering. At the central portion is it" struck up'annular ledge 12*,the convex portion of which enters a corres onding groove in. the metal base 1, surroun ing the steam inlet and is made 85 fast thereto by solder, which also fills and strengthens the joint. Around the base 1*, at its outer edge is preferabl formed a bead for receiving the bottom of tlie vessel 1.

3 is a perspective view of one form of the rocker. Fig. 3%: a perspectiveview showing a modification. Fig. 4 is an elevation showv ing the rocker of Fig. 3 in position. Fig;

o is a horizontal sectional detail of the compeneating device shown in Figs. '1, 2 and 4.

' Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the collapsible and expansible vessel 1 which is to receive steam trom a boiler not shown, rests on a metal base 1", preferably of cast metal, such as iron, and is secured thereto in a manner hereinafter explained. A bracket 2, for suporting the working parts or" the regulator lies a member 2' made fast to base 1', why

in said member. Above the central top,.portion of the vessel 1, is a hub 3, on'the end of' the upper extension of the bracket 2, which serves as a guide for a plunger 4, fast to the movable top Wall of said vessel. Extending from hub 3, is a forked bracket arm 24, pivotally mounted in which is a compensat ing device, carrying a spring pressed plunger 34, Fig. 5, provided with arms 35, receiving between them one end of the plunger 4, and an extension of the lever supporting rocker 10, which latter has its enlarged and rear portion pivotally supported in bearings 12 on said upper bracket arm; r so In lugs. 2 and 3 "are shown the detailed construction of this rocker which consists of a hollow casting open at the bottom and rear and havin a to wall provided with a air of. centrally slotted guides 4, 5, and a 's otted clamping post o on line therewith for re ceiving and retaining damper lever 11. The forward body portion of therocker is narrower than the rear portion and is ad pted as above stated to enter the forked end of plun- 4o ger 34, and to receive the upper end of plunger 4, the said members being coupled together by a pivot pin 32. The side walls at the wider and rear portion of the rocker'lO, serve as bearin s and to this end are proi vided near the ower corners with. holes 8, 1hrough which is passed a soft metal pivot pin 9 to pivotally secure the rocker to lugs 12 on arm 2. The holes 12 in these lugs are preferably provided with metal bushings 10, so such as brass, to avoid the formation of rust. similar bushing may be .placed in the bearing at the end of 1plunger 4. The soft metal pin 9* is prefer-ally headed alter its insertion m holes 8 thereby making it fast in its hous mg in thl rocker walls, but permitting the same to oscillate in its brass bushing in steam boiler not shown, and the lever 11, inlugs 12. serted through the slot in binding post 6, The form of support for the rower-lever with its lower edge resting in the central reabove described )osse'sses the a vantage of taining grooves 4i and 5. The ri ht-hand giving great freedom of movement, permitextremity of the lever is attache to the 125' ting the pivots to be made quite loose to damper not shown by means ofafiexible conavoid clogging by dirt arid rust, and at the nection such as a c aim. The lever is now same time securing steadiness of movement adjusted in its binding post on the rocker to by reason of the wide pivotal supports,'withthe desired position and clamped therein and" an out experiencing the evil results of binding brought into a horizontal position'by lower 13s ferrediorm of compensating device, and in Fig. 5 a horizontal section of the same. The bracket arm 2 reviously referred to is shown connected to 51c bottom of the expansible and'collapsible vessel. In this form of the invention "the top of the vessel 1 has a;direct connection with the rocker 10, by means of a plunger 4', fast to the top of the vessel and pivotally attached to the rocker. Extendmg from hub 3, are upwardly extending arms 24, 24, for supporting the compensating device, whiclr'consists of a barrel 27, havmg a closure 28, and being open at its opposite, end. The barrel 27, is mounted to oscillate, in forks 25, as by means of trunnions 29, and incloses a spring 30, resting at its inner end against a flanged cap 31, into which enters. a screw 32, threaded through head 28, and secured from turning by means of ajam nut 33. Resting against the outer end of the spring, is a plunger 34, terminating at its extremity in prongs 35, for engaging arms22, on the rocker and having near its inner end a flange 36, for receiving the ressure'of the spring and a head 37, for stea ying the same. 1'15 e operationof the device thus far de-- scribed is as follows: The parts of the regu- .lator having been assembled at the place of manufacture, except as to the damper lever 11, the vessel 1 is connected up with the In Figs. 1,2 and 4:, I have shown the pre- 90 50 to the distanc from which pivot see, we

1c in the boiler, the regulator vessel responds by expanding and forcing the plunger 4-, upward and tilting the rocker 10, which carries the damper lever. A continuation of such expansion of the vessel is soon resisted by the resiliency of the corrugated Walls of the col- .lapsible and expansible vessel, and were it not for the provision l have made for compensating this opposing force, further equal extensions of the vessel would require a proso p rti0nally larger increase in the steam pres sure. The sensitiveness of the regulator 1 would therefore decrease as higher pressures were reached. To overcome this, I have pro vided compensating means, one form of which, and the one preferred, is shown in its details in Fig. 5, and 111 position ready to act on the plun er of the collapsible and expansible vesse Figs. 1, 2, either 111 an upward or downward direction, While in l? d, the deas vice is illustrated in dotted line posiiion to better show its mode of operation.

The operation of the device follows: Plunger 34 is made of such a length that when the Wall of the collapsible and expann q: (em

35 sible vessel is in its normal position pivots 13, 32 and P9, are in a straight line, the spring 30, then acting at right-angles to the plunger 4, and having no tendency to move it up or down. When the vessel 1 either en pands or contracts, pivot 32 is carried either above or below the hue joining pivots 1'3, 32 and 39, as the case may be, and a component of the force exerted by the spring is resolved. in the line of the plunger to counteract the A5 etlect of the resilience of the Walls of the vessel. In the dotted line position Fig. t is springforcc will be exerted upward. his force Within the comparatively narrow lirr is in the present case is practically proportional 32 is moved away from its normal position and by properly adjusting the spring 30, by means of screw 32, the resiliency of the vessel can be practically neutralized.

Referring to ig. 3 there is illustrated in a perspective view a modified form of rocker for receiving the power-lever ll. This rocker consists of a body portion 16, preferably of cast metal, having a central depresee sion 17, surrounded by an edge or rim 18,

having cut-out portions 19, in line with each other and into which the lever 11, snugly fits and is secured by means of a screw or bolt entering the threaded opening 20.

e5 The object ofdepression 17, is to facilitate the construction of the rocker. In order to secure good fit For the power-lever the slots 19, have to be machined out. By casting the depression 17, in the face of the body 16, and sinking it deeper than the bottom of the slots 1.9, only the metal in (he rim has to be machined out. Cast integral with the body portion 16, of the rocker, at right-angles to the face oi the same and at or n or its lovxcr edge is a n'ieinbcr 21, provided with tvro dcpending arms 13, for engaging lugs 12, on bracket-arm 12. Similar arms 22, are prel'erably located at the opposite end ol the rocker and are separated slightly to receive between thorn the connection to the collapsh his and expansible vessel.

vi ha I claim ism- 1. in a amper regulator, the combination of a rocker, a damper operating lever detachably connected thereto, collapsible and expa siblc vessel oi resilient material, subject to fluctuations or" steam boiler pressure, and having a movable part thereof connected to said rocker, and compensating means to op pose tl'ro force of rcsi 'cncein the walls of said vessel.

2. In a damper regulator, the combination 'uf a pivotally supported member adapted lo be connected to a damper, a collapsible and cxpansible vessel of resilient material subject to fluctuations of steam boiler pressure and having a movable iart thereof con nected to said member and compensating means to oppose the force of resilience in the walls of said vessel.

3. in a damper regulator, the combination of a rocker havizw a top wall provided with centrally slotted lugs, a slotted binding post in line therewith, and side vyalls constituting bearings for said rocker, and a damper lever adjustably mounted in sai d slotted members.

4. in a damper regulator, the combination of a rocker having a top vall provided nith centrally slotted lugs, a slotted binding post in line thcnnrilli for receiving a damper lever and side v: .lls integral with said top wall and constituting bearings for one end of said rocker, a damper lever adjustably mounted in said slotted members, and roclcerectuating means for said rocker.

5. in a dampen regulator, the combination of a collapsible and expansible vessel having a Wall of resilient material subject to liuctuations of lluid pressure, power transmittingv means connected to one end of said vessel and a spring actuated plunger for applying force to the Walls of said vessel to compensatc the force ol resiliency. in said walls.

In a damper regulator, the combination of a collapsible and cxpansible vessel having a wall of resilient material subject to fluctuations oi lluid pressure, power transmitting means connected to one end of said vessel, a pivotally supported, spring actuated plunger for applying force to the Walls of said vessel to compensate the force of resiliency in said Walls.

71 In a damper regulator, the combination of a collapsible and expansible vessel having a Wall of resilient material subject to fluctuations of fluid pressure, power transmitting means connected to one end of'said vessel, apivotally supported spring actuated plunger for applying force to the walls of said vessel to compensate the force of resiliency in said walls and means for regulating the tension of said spring.

8. In a damper regulator, the combination of a colla sible andexpansible vessel having a wall 0' resilient material subject to fluctuations of fluid pressure, a bracket, a rocker in said bracket, a connecting member between said rocker and one en. wall of said vessel and a spring actuated p unger pivotally supported in said in acket and connected to said member for com resiliency in the walls 0 said vessel.

9. In a damper regulator, the combination of a rocker a damper-operating lever detachably supported therein, a collapsible and expansible vessel of resilient material, subject to fluctuations of steam boiler pressure, and l1av1ng a movable part thereof connected to said rocker, and means associated With said vessel for compensating for variations in the resilient force in the Walls of said vessel due to lon itudinalmcvement in said Walls.

10. in a damper regulator, the combina tion of a power, transmitting member, a collapsible and expansible vessel of resilient material subject to fluctuations of fluid pres sure and having a movable )art of said vessel connected to said mem associated with said vessel ing for variations in the resilient force in the walls of said vessel due to longitudinal movement in said walls.

11.'In a damper regulator, the combination of a corrugated collapsible and expansible metallic ensating the force of er, and means for compensatvessel subject to fluctuations scans of fluid pressure, a supportfor the same, a bracket fast to said support, a lever-supporting rocker on said bracket, non-corro ile bearings for said rocker, and means for damper lever, andmeans securedv to said reinforcing wall'for supporting said lever.

13, In a damper regulator, the combination of a rocking member, I adjustably supportedv by said member, bearand means subject tov fluid press'ureacting to operate the same.

7 depression for receivinga damper lever x mgs for supporting one end of said member,

14. In a damper regulator,- the combina tion of a collapsible and eX'p'ansible vessel having a flexible corrugated wall of resilient mater al, said vessel being subject to fiuc-. tuations in fluid pressure, a dam er lever,

power transmitting means transmitting the.

movements of said vessel to said lever, and compensating means engaging said powertransmitting means to oppose the force of resilience in the walls of said vessel.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two. subscribmg witnesses. v 4 j l i v -W-ESTON,M. FULTON,

Witnesses: I I i F. M. DEAR AND, W. E. DRUMMOND. 

